Hasta La Gadget!

The fact that Apple is holding a media event on September 12 has been all over the place lately, and as we close in on the date, anticipation is beginning to build. Here’s something that won’t help at all with that anticipation: Apple has started prepping the Yerba Buena Center ahead of the event, with 9to5Mac and Macstories both posting pictures of the exterior and interior of the building. Apple clearly wants to make its presence known on September 12, but given the Apple events of years past, we really wouldn’t expect any less.

Preparations still seem to be ongoing, but the images show that they’re certainly underway and progressing nicely. We can see workers decorating the outside of the building with colorful banners, as Apple is wont to do for its press events and major reveals. On the inside, we can plainly see a wall that has been plastered with a huge Apple logo. There isn’t any doubt about it – Apple has something huge planned, and thanks to a number of leaks (and Apple’s own invitations) we have a pretty good idea of what that is.

Apple is widely expected to announce the iPhone 5 next week, and indeed, all signs point to such a reveal. There were also some rumors that claimed Apple would reveal a brand new iteration of the iPad – the iPad Mini – but lately those rumors have died down in favor of new whispers which claim that the iPad Mini will be revealed at a later date. Earlier today, we caught word of an incoming iPod reveal at the event, but aside from the iPhone 5, it’s still difficult to say what Apple has planned.

In any case, it’s going to be pretty big. We’re going to be there liveblogging the whole thing, so be sure to follow this link and watch everything unfold starting at 10 AM PST on September 12. Additionally, to tide yourself over until the big event actually arrives, be sure to check out our Apple portal for all of the latest rumors, speculation, and news. Stay tuned folks, because the next few days are likely to be quite the wild ride.

Apple prepping Yerba Buena Center for iPhone 5 reveal is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

I am not quite sure just how many of you out there still carry your music around – no, let me rephrase, have a collection of music in cassette form since the humble cassette-based Sony Walkmans have all but died for a long, long time already (in technology’s timeframe, time is relatively short). Well, assuming you have some old classics that have yet to make their way to the digital format even after you have spent years scouring the Internet for it (without any CDs available, either), there is some hope left.

You need not depend on Obi Wan Kenobi, but you can surely check out the $79.95 Cassette To iPod Converter which will be able to convert audio tape cassettes into MP3 files directly. Of course, this digitized format from an analog source would mean you will also get all the hisses and pops, but that is part of the package, and if you have a remote interest in cleaning up digital audio files, then you would not mind converting your entire cassette collection. All converted audio will be stashed away on the docked iPhone or iPod touch, as long as there is adequate storage space, that is. A couple of AA batteries power the Cassette To iPod Converter.

[ Cassette To iPod Converter copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

We’re not sure how many of you guys still have old cassette tapes lying around, but in case you do and your entire music collection is still sitting on your shelf in cassette tape format, Hammacher Schlemmer has a gadget that will convert the songs on your cassette tape into MP3 format on your iPhone/iPod touch with an accompanying app. As pictured above, the device is reminiscent of the old Walkman/tape recorders back in the day which should be nostalgic for some. However since the songs are being converted from tape to MP3, safe to say that the audio quality will not be as crisp as the digital music that we have access to these days, but it will be a great way to digitize your entire music collection, albeit a rather slow one. You will also be listen to the tape by connecting your headphones to the audio jack or to a stereo system. So if you’d like to pick up this converter for yourself, head on over to Hammacher Schlemmer’s website where you can order one for $80.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Apple job listings hints at redesigned dock connector, JVC NX-BX3 Nightstand doubles up as an iOS dock,

Apple has launched a program on their own website called Reuse and Recycling in which they’re more than willing to take your iPhone 4S for a gift certificate in their store. Of course the main reason a lot of people will be doing this is that once the iPhone 5 (or whatever it’ll be called) is on the market, the iPhone 4S might not look so fabulous anymore. To the early adopter “must have it” crowd, that is.

This program has the ability to take in not only your iPhone 4S, but a collection of other Apple devices as well as non-Apple gadgets too. The front page for this program shows an iMac, iPad, iPhone, two iPods, and a lovely old button-toting phone from the distant past. It also has the white MacBook, no longer sold by Apple brand new.

This is all part of Apple’s “Apple and the Environment” initiative of course as well, making it clear to users around the world that they are indeed Green. You’ll be assured in this Recycling initiative that your units will be either reused or recycled in environmentally friendly ways, and you’ll get more than just a warm feeling in your heart – you’ll get Apple money.

Apple won’t be tossing any cold hard cash in this program, but they will be giving you credit in their store. Gift Certificates are one of the reasons you’d send in your old gear, a no-cost-to-you offer to get rid of all your gadgets that otherwise would push us closer to a garbage-filled planet is another. If you send in your old iPod or mobile phone that’s not included in the main Gift Certificate part of the program, you’ll either just be able to send it in for recycling for free, (a great deal by itself), or you’ll be able to bring it in to an Apple Retail Store and get 10 percent off a new one.

NOTE: This 10 percent offer does not apply to the iPod shuffle – Apple says so!

And of course what’s rather important about this situation is that the iPhone 4S is included in it. There’s no other reason for Apple to want to include their newest hero phone in a program like this where you’ll get gift cards back for the unit except for the idea that an even newer model is right around the corner – except of course if you’ve got a damaged iPhone 4S and want a new one: they take damaged units, too.

iPhone 5 launch date imminent as 4S included in “recycling” program is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Several announcements have been made today by Apple regarding their current staff and leadership, with none other than Bob Mansfield coming out of retirement to work under Tim Cook. Mansfield announced his retirement in June of this year, but will now be working on Apple products for the foreseeable future. Apple also let it be known that Craig Federighi and Dan Riccio have been promoted from vice presidents of their respective parts of the business to senior vice presidents.

Federighi is now senior vice president of Mac Software Engineering, where he’ll be working with Apple’s operating system engineering teams and will retain responsibility for the development of Mac OS X. Notable here is Apple’s usage of “Mac” in front of “OS X” where with the release of Mountain Lion it appeared that Mac was axed as a brand name from the OS. Federighi’s impressive past was recounted by Apple as well:

Federighi worked at NeXT, followed by Apple, and then spent a decade at Ariba where he held several roles including vice president of Internet Services and chief technology officer. He returned to Apple in 2009 to lead Mac OS X engineering. Federighi holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Riccio will be working with Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod engineering teams as new senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. His body of work is also pretty fabulous, Apple letting us know what he’s been through over the past collection of years.

He has been instrumental in all of Apple’s iPad products since the first generation iPad. Riccio joined Apple in 1998 as vice president of Product Design and has been a key contributor to most of Apple’s hardware over his career. Dan earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1986.

Mansfield was the previous senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, and it’s not quite been stated in letters what his current position is (as far as a title goes.) We’re sure that Tim Cook is more than pleased that Mansfield will be sticking around, one way or another.

[via Apple]

Apple entices Bob Mansfield out of retirement is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.